NCOI

AGO National Competition in Organ Improvisation

The National Competition in Organ Improvisation seeks to further the art of improvisation by recognizing and rewarding superior performance in the field. A flourishing tradition of improvisation is fundamental to a truly vital musical culture.

The 2020 competition rules and procedure will be available in mid-2019.Contact AGO Headquarters for more information. The competition is open to all organists regardless of age or citizenship; it is also open to non-AGO members. Applicants who do not reside in the U.S. are responsible for understanding and complying with U.S. visa requirements as well as travel costs where applicable. First-place winners of a previous NCOI are not eligible. The NCOI occurs biennially and commences with a recorded Application Round followed by a semifinal and final round held in conjunction with the 2020 National Convention in Atlanta, Ga. Prizes: First Place – $3,000, funded by the estate of McNeil Robinson, a CD recording on the Pro Organo label; Second Place – $2,000, funded by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders; Third Place – $1,500, funded by Pamela and Steven Ruiter-Feenstra; Audience prize – $1,500, funded by David and Robin Arcus.

2018 NCOI Prize Winners

The AGO is pleased to announce the three 2018 NCOI prize winners: Kalle Toivio, First Place, Robert Horton, Second Place and Audience Prize, and Douglas Murray, Third Place. The three finalists performed Tuesday, July 3rd, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, Missouri.

2018 NCOI First Place

Kalle Toivio received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2017. Kalle Toivio is the organist and director of music at the Church of Notre Dame in New York City. He is the founder and sub-dean of the Finland Chapter AGO, and a member of the organ faculty at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege. For more than seven years Kalle Toivio studied with the late McNeil Robinson.

Kalle is a sought-after lecturer and recitalist. In September, 2018, he gave a lecture, master class, and recital at the Sibelius Academy, in Helsinki, Finland. He is playing an active role as a Finnish language coach in the February 25, 2019 performance of Sibelius’ Kullervo at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

A special note to chapters—hosting an AGO competition winner is the perfect chapter event! Kalle lives and works in New York City, and he is available for recitals or improvisation workshops. For more information, contact Kalle Toivio or AGO Headquarters.

Upcoming Recitals

Turku Cathedral
Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Vihti Church
Thursday, July 25, 2019

Helsinki Cathedral
Sunday, July 28, 2019

Lahti Organ Festival
Church of the Cross, Thursday, August 8, 2019

Past NCOI Winners

2016 Thomas Dahl First Place and Audience Prize
Matt Gender Second Place
Kalle Toivio Third Place

Live Streaming Events

American Guild of Organists 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260 New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-870-2310Email: info@agohq.org
Major support for this website was provided by the New York City AGO Chapter’s Centennial Millennium Fund.